Top 3 Lessons From It’s All About the Guest

I recently read It’s All About the Guest: Exceeding Expectations in Business and in Life, the Davio’s Way, by Steve DiFillippo. It was a pleasure reading this book, because the value contained within is priceless. In this book DiFillippo summarizes what he has learned as a successful restaurateur. He not only covers his achievements and smart decisions, but also covers his shortcomings and poor decisions. What’s more is that he uses these life lessons to spell out exactly what he has taken away. He summarizes these lessons at the end of each chapter, with what he calls “Restaurant Lessons to Live By”. Even if you purchase this book and only read the “Restaurant Lessons to Live By”, you would still be getting your return on investment. Also, throughout the book DiFillippo slips in recipes that have made his restaurants so successful.

I try to limit each book reviews to 3 lessons to share, but choosing those 3 lessons was SO extremely difficult, because every lesson in this book is worth sharing. I intend to share those lessons in future blog post and I’ll be sure to give Mr. DiFillippo credit along the way.

After an hour of stressing over which lessons to share I’ve decided on the following 3:

You Must Give Before You GetThroughout this book there are countless accounts of DiFillippo giving. He gives in many ways. He gives his time, his money, his support and his mentorship, just to name a few. I noticed that whenever he gives, he doesn’t give blindly. DiFillippo is always giving for a greater purpose or cause that benefits those around him, whether it is his inner guest (employees), his community or the restaurant industry.This book alone is a perfect example of how he is giving to the restaurant industry. He could choose to sit on his wisdom and horde his knowledge, but instead he has chosen to share it. Why? Because he knows that by giving, you are simultaneously building a field of positivity energy, opportunity and community around your restaurant. All of which act as tools too accelerate your success.

You’re Only As Good as Your TeamDiFillippo understands that you need to surround yourself with a talented team. Early in the books he admits to not being the smartest person alive. To be successful you don’t need to be the smartest person alive! You just need to be good at surrounding yourself with people that are smarter than yourself.Before you think about opening a restaurant, think about honing your ability to recognize talent in others. Then use this ability to surround yourself with people that have the talents you need to run a successful restaurant.

It’s All About The GuestDiFillippo could not have chosen a better title for this book. Literally every decision you make as a restaurant owner needs to be made with the guest in mind. You need to constantly ask yourself “how is this going to affect the guest?”Your restaurant isn’t about you and fulfilling your fantasy, it is about leaving your guest feeling their restaurant fantasy has been fulfilled. Will you knock every guest experience out of the park? Most likely not and when that happens do everything in your power to make it right.

Really, there are so many lessons to be learned from reading this book. Not only lessons on how to run a successful restaurant, but also lesson on how to be a good person. I hope you enjoy it was much as I did.

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